Jobs & The Economy

Jobs

As previously mentioned under Taxation, as a result of a hostile business environment created by legislators, Illinois has been losing jobs left and right, mostly as a result of excessive taxation and excessive governmental oversight; it has resulted in many jobs relocating to neighboring states, distant states or out of the country as a result. Most of Illinois' working class are out of a job and it has become incredibly difficult to find a job given the lack of job opportunities, which is why the state's unemployment rate lingers between 6% and 7%.

In a state with almost 13 million residents, having almost a million residents out of work is absolutely unacceptable. The best solution would be for the government to step aside, because as we have seen, the state government is terrible handling human resources and payroll. In order for Illinois to become a business-friendly environment, restrictive regulations such as salary caps, minimum wage laws and excessively strict regulatory burdens need to go. The creation of a business-friendly environment will become enticing to businesses and corporations, which results in their interest to bring their production and manufacturing facilities to the state, thus creating a supply of jobs. It would also breed an environment where investors and venture capitalists aren't afraid to start up new companies or offer up venture capital to expand or revive an existing business.

When it comes to several departments and agencies that serve as nothing more than a roadblock to entrepreneurs and businesses, they are inefficient and ineffective monopolized governmental entities riddled with fraud, waste and abuse and can't get the job done as compared to private sector entities. Serious discussions also need to be made regarding unemployment insurance and welfare reforms, which needs some serious consideration and conversation in regards to reform.

The Economy

Both of my opponents in November claim to have an economic plan for the district as well as for the state. The problem is: they're both central planners who think they can guide and direct the economy of 13 million people statewide and roughly 90,000 people district-wide. Their plans will differ considerably and they both would be incorrect in regards to their plans.

Central planning destroyed the economy in Europe and the same is threatening the local, state and national economies. They may be well learned in regards to the boom/bust business cycle, but they cannot truly minimize the effects of the cycle and also believes that through labor market, money supply and industrial regulation, their plans will prevent negative events, such as the housing bubble. However, taxation through regulation, the manipulation of interest rates and the creation of new money has put our economy on the brink of failure and collapse.

The best solution is to re-establish free markets at the local and state levels, allow those markets to regulate those economies and take the government out of the regulation and central planning game.